IMPACT Special Funding Opportunities

In 2017 the Foundation redesigned its IMPACT Grants Program to include opportunities for operational support and multiple year investment. Through this strategy, we aimed to give organizations what they need most—time to make an impact and the unrestricted dollars needed to do so. Over the years we have worked to continuously improve the model with valuable input from our nonprofit partners, members of the grants committee, and our colleagues in the field.  We feel the most recent redesign has allowed us to have an even greater impact.

In the spirit of continual improvement, the Foundation believes it is time to again revisit how it makes grants through the IMPACT program. This year the Foundation will undertake an evaluation of the last five years of grantmaking. This is a year of transition and no new IMAPCT grants will be awarded in 2023. This does not mean that no IMPACT grants will be made in 2023. Organizations eligible for IMPACT renewals have been approved in 2023 and will be eligible again in 2024.

The Foundation’s special funding grantmaking categories are not impacted by this decision and will open on July 12, 2023. These programs include the Kahn Oppenheim Trust, Harold W. Newman Trust, Gulf States Eye Surgery Fund, and Michael R. Boh Fund.

Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations that serve the Greater New Orleans region are eligible to apply for funding. Organizations that are not tax-exempt but have a fiscal agent relationship with a 501(c)(3) organization are also eligible. The average grant size is $20,000; grants may be larger or smaller.

Nonprofit organizations with a current IMPACT renewal grant are not eligible to apply.

Applicants may only submit one application for the IMPACT program, including special funding categories.

Priority will be given to organizations that demonstrate one or more of the following: 

• Strong leadership at the staff and board level
• Good fiscal management
• Growing track record of success
• Commitment to equity for communities and populations in high need
• Thoughtful involvement of community members as leaders and advisors
• Key contributions to the health and vibrancy of the communities they serve
• Advocacy on behalf of underserved communities at the community, legislative, judicial, and/or executive levels
• Creative engagement of multiple stakeholders to promote the creation of new public sources of support for nonprofit work
• Integration of individual, family, and community views into the assessment of needs and services as well as needed policy and advocacy initiatives

Funding Opportunities

Harold W. Newman, Jr. Charitable Trust ($90,000 Available) – Funding for organizations that provide health care assistance to residents of New Orleans whose U.S. adjusted gross income for the preceding tax year, when added to any tax-exempt income and income from a spouse for that same year, is at least $75,000 but not more than $200,000. The health care assistance must be for cancer, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s.

Kahn-Oppenheim Trust ($220,000 Available) – Funding for the development and/or improvement of public health outreach and education programs to inform people about ways to prevent diseases like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, HIV/AIDS, and others, insofar as these programs involve physical, nutritional, or dietary regimens.

Gulf States Eye Surgery Fund ($65,000 Available) – Funding for organizations that defray the expenses of poor or indigent patients requiring or receiving eye surgery, care, or treatment.

Michael R. Boh Fund ($40,000 Available) – Funding for organizations that help children and their families who have been rejected by the institutions that most children rely on for their development.

How to Apply for Funding 

The average grant size is $20,000; grants may be larger or smaller.

Nonprofit organizations with a current IMPACT renewal grant are not eligible to apply.

Applicants may only submit one application for the IMPACT program, including special funding categories.

Note: All grant applicants will need to create an account using our online system to apply. Basic information will be stored for future use when new applications are submitted. We have a simple two-step process:

1. Use our online portal to submit an application along with all attachments by 11:59 pm (CT) on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
2. GNOF program staff will review all applications and will contact those organizations that are selected for a site visit.

Awards are expected to be announced in November 2023.

Still Have Questions?

If you have a question, please e-mail your question to grants@gnof.org (please put “IMPACT Question” in the subject line).